Aaron Rodgers is the A.P. male athlete of the year

Posted by Michael David Smith on December 21, 2011, 1:03 PM EDT

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Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who followed a Super Bowl MVP performance early this year with perhaps the greatest regular season in NFL history, has been named the Associated Press male athlete of the year for 2011.

Rodgers got 112 votes from the 212 American news organizations that voted for the award, easily outpacing the second-place finisher, Detroit Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who had 50 votes. Tennis player Novak Djokovic was third with 21 votes, and Panthers quarterback Cam Newton, who started the year by winning a national championship at Auburn, was fourth with six votes.

Rodgers is the third NFL quarterback to win the athlete of the year award in the last five years, following Drew Brees in 2010 and Tom Brady in 2007. He described it as “surreal” to be mentioned alongside the greatest athletes in any sport.

Aaron who? You mean that scrub QB that just lost to the scrub Chiefs. Ha Ha. Too funny. I used to like Aaron but i quickly got tired of him because the media tried cramming him down my throat like he is a lord or saviour. Stats and awards mean nothing to me as a fan. The way i see it Aaron has one ring. Thats all. The media should wait till he’s played longer to annoint him as a lord. Terry Bradshaw won 4 Super Bowls, and lost zero Super bowls. As did Joe Montana. When Aaron has won 4 Super Bowls with zero Super Bowl losses then he will be worthy of being considered as great as yall now think he is. Geaux Saints!

skins716 says:Dec 21, 2011 1:13 PM

I don’t know, but I think Rex Grossman may have something to say about that! lol

musiccitymiracle says:Dec 21, 2011 1:13 PM

Djokovic winning three majors is more impressive. Somebody QB always wins the super bowl and wins a bunch of games in the regular season.

If they won last week I could understand it with no problems but, Brees is about to break Dan Marino’s record this weekend and Rogers let his team lose to the crappy Chiefs.
Still a good guy and he did win the Superbowl this year.
Sober up and win the next five games.

claymath52 says:Dec 21, 2011 1:39 PM

nflwatcher says:
Dec 21, 2011 1:28 PM
I always hate that these awards are premature IMO. If GB loses their first playoff game and Brees smashes Marino’s passing yardage record enroute to another SB championship is Rodgers still deserving?

My vote would be for Tim Thomas.

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I assume you don’t cheer for a team that makes the playoffs often?? The award is “of the year.” He is Super Bowl MVP and the playoffs aren’t until NEXT year…

Who cares about that? For goodness sake let’s get back to stories about Big Baby Roethlesberger’s mildly sprained ankle….

cowboycjn says:Dec 21, 2011 1:52 PM

Like anything else, its what the media promotes. If they give a certain player daily coverage and saturate the TV and print with the same person it makes people think that person is the best. Not so. Look at stats, Brees has more yards passing, a higher % passing rate, and will probably break a long standing record. Yet no one covers him or the Saints so they are not promoted and get no votes. All you hear (TV & sports pages) is GB (Rodgers) Pats (Brady) and now the god (Tebow). Like everything it’s lets see who we want to promote this year, thats who we will saturate the air waves with.

I always hate that these awards are premature IMO. If GB loses their first playoff game and Brees smashes Marino’s passing yardage record enroute to another SB championship is Rodgers still deserving?

My vote would be for Tim Thomas.

Lets try to make this clearer for you:
It’s OF…THE….YEAR as in 2012. Not of 2013.
Would you rather they announce it on the 31st?

On topic, congrats to Rodgers. It’s much deserved. I don’t know if I’d call it the greatest season though. It’s up there though. Definitely the most efficient. Just hope we can get a stable O line so he can keep it up into the playoffs

It’s really hard to argue with this. The guy has been incredible. It won’t mean much, however, if the Packers don’t repeat. I say that not to rile up Packers fans. Rodgers would be the first to agree with that statement. This should add even more salt into the wounds of fans who insisted that he couldn’t be the replacement for Our Lord and Savior Brett Favre. Good for him.

I always hate that these awards are premature IMO. If GB loses their first playoff game and Brees smashes Marino’s passing yardage record enroute to another SB championship is Rodgers still deserving?

My vote would be for Tim Thomas.

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The award is for the calendar year, not the NFL year. Rodgers won the Superbowl this year and won 18 straight games within 2011. Tim Thomas would have been a good choice also, but I don’t think Rodgers playoffs this year should have any bearing.

gosuhgo says:Dec 21, 2011 1:55 PM

Djokovic had 3 losses over a 10 month season – he basically put together the best season in tennis history. I’m pretty sure that’s at least better than Verlander.

nflofficeadmin says:Dec 21, 2011 1:57 PM

The discount double check guy??

cleverbob says:Dec 21, 2011 1:57 PM

nflwatcher says:
Dec 21, 2011 1:28 PM

I always hate that these awards are premature IMO. If GB loses their first playoff game and Brees smashes Marino’s passing yardage record enroute to another SB championship is Rodgers still deserving?
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Yes, Rodgers would still deserve it for the 2011 calendar year. If Drew Brees (or insert some other QB here) went on to win the SB this season, and dominated through the start of the 2012-2013 season, then he would be a candidate for the award at the end of next year.

This is for Associated Press Male Athlete of the (calendar) Year, not an NFL award.

“The media should wait till he’s played longer to annoint him as a lord. Terry Bradshaw won 4 Super Bowls and lost zero Super Bowls…”

and used steroids

“As did Joe Montana.”

Who played in an era without free agency.

“When Aaron has won 4 Super Bowls with zero Super Bowl losses then he will be worthy of being considered as great as yall now think he is.”

So is Tom Brady not great because he’s 3-1? Is that the standard?

“Geaux Saints!”

Oh, I see where this is coming from. Our nation’s brief love affair with Drew Brees and the Saints ended when they lost to the Seahawks and Rodgers and the Packers took the torch and ran with it. Also, Brees has only won 1 Super Bowl.

prior0knowledge says:Dec 21, 2011 2:04 PM

Hey folks – It is calendar year

Aaron Rodgers was MVP of this calendar year’s Superbowl and this season’s awesome results. If he collapses in the playoffs, that is next year. But this year, the voters of this award thought he has dominated his sport more than any other male athlete has dominated their sport.

packfaninchitown says:Dec 21, 2011 2:04 PM

I used to like Aaron but i quickly got tired of him because the media tried cramming him down my throat like he is a lord or saviour. Stats and awards mean nothing to me as a fan. The way i see it Aaron has one ring. Thats all. The media should wait till he’s played longer to annoint him as a lord.
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1. You must love Tebow then.

2. So has Brees.

3. Rodgers hasn’t been “anointed” as anything except what he is, a damn good QB having an outstanding season.

Enough with the “greatest regular season in NFL history” spin. Rogers season is marginaly better than Brees, and not really that close to the dominating seasons of 2004 Manning and 2007 Brady.

Manbearpig says:Dec 21, 2011 2:13 PM

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who followed a Super Bowl MVP performance early this year with perhaps the greatest regular season in NFL history, has been named the Associated Press male athlete of the year for 2011.

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Really? The greatest in regular season history? I’d like to see what Joe Montana could have done if in his era the game was tailored for quarterbacks and against defenses. Watered-down era in which you can’t tackle or touch receivers – needs an asterisk by his name. Not even a better season than ’09 Favre.

Honestly, I can’t believe Newton was in the conversation. He won the national championship in college, but somebody does every year. He hasn’t even had the best rookie season among NFL QB’s, despite what some of his buddies on ESPN and FOX say. It’s clearly been Andy Dalton as the best rookie QB.

**Let me be clear, I think Newton will utltimately be better than Dalton, and certainly seems to have a higher ceiling, but this year—Dalton has been better, just look at turnovers. Lack of turnovers is the mark of a good QB**

musiccitymiracle says:Dec 21, 2011 2:20 PM

I forgot, the AP’s gigantic american bias: a Non-American like Djokovic could never be the best athlete in the world. THIS IS ARE COUNTRY.

salmen76 says:Dec 21, 2011 2:31 PM

Sorry guys. Aaron is indeed a scrub. Kinda goofy actually. And very ugly. Not as ugly as Big ben but ugly just the same. He has a me me me i’m the man looky what i can do attitude. After they beat the Saints in week one he slammed Drew Brees and the Saints for having lockout practices and laughed it off cuz they won against the Saints without the lockout workouts. Fine and dandy. But if people think Drew Brees and the Saints forgot about that Diss by Aaron the scrub Rogers you’ve made a serious misjudgement! The Saints never said a word about it. But they remember it i gaurantee ya. I’m looking forward to the NFC championship post game comments by Drew Brees which might go as follows: Yea, we had lockout practices and we won the NFC Championship game and the Packers didn’t have lockout prctices and they lost the Championship game! Drew is probably to classy to ever say that but i would. Geaux Saints!

Rodgers bashers, guy won 19 nfl games in a row., including three road playoff games at Philly, Atlanta and Chicago. Those favoring Brees, breaking Marino’s record is impressive, but passing yards are overrated in this NFL and Brees threw multiple picks in losses to the Bucs and Rams, who have a combined 6 wins and 22 losses this season. Just sayin’, the award is not unjustified.

salmen76, you’re a moron. As if Brees isn’t shoved down our throats on a weekly basis. The dude’s got like a zillion commercials, and people won’t shut up about him. Matter of fact his year last year was inferior to Rodgers and he, not Rodgers, not the Pro Bowl bid. I’ll admit, Drew is having an awesome year, but people have been fellating him for longer than they have Rodgers. Get over your Packers hate, or it’ll hurt that much more when they oust your beloved Saints from the playoffs.

I cannot believe some of these comments, that Rodgers shouldn’t win the award because they lost to the Cheifs, and you think that Bress should win it. But do you all remember the Saints lost to the Damn RAMS and they have a horrible team REMEMBER THAT

Salmen76, if you really think the Saints (a soft, never play in the elements, dome team) can come into Lambeau in the middle of the winter and beat the Packers then you really must be stupid. The only team that poses a true threat to the Packers in the playoffs are the Eagles (if they get in) or the 49ers.

And about the one ring thing: You mean to tell me that Favre, Young, Unitas, Namath, Manning, Warner, and Brees were/are not top tier QBs?

greenandgoldgirl says:Dec 21, 2011 3:14 PM

salmen76 – you are so misinformed. Aaron was not dissing the Saints after that game, he was dissing the media that kept harping about how he had not arranged practices with his team. Drew Brees gets his share of the attention so get over your hate. Aaron said many good things about the Saints and Brees after the game, go check the tape, Aaron is a class act!

Oh and of course Marino, Fouts, Esiason, Kelly, and Tarkenton were all terrible, terrible QBs because they NEVER won rings.

boisestatewhodat says:Dec 21, 2011 3:41 PM

He’s still no Drew Brees…Brees’ stats this year are better in almost every category. You’ll see soon enough Green Bay…WHO DAT!!

skittlesareyum says:Dec 21, 2011 4:28 PM

I’m looking forward to the NFC championship post game comments by Drew Brees which might go as follows: Yea, we had lockout practices and we won the NFC Championship game and the Packers didn’t have lockout prctices and they lost the Championship game! Drew is probably to classy to ever say that but i would. Geaux Saints!

Let’s assume for a moment that Rodgers was indeed making fun of the Saints, and that the Saints defeat the Packers.

Why would anyone to bring up the offseason practice issue during week 20 of the NFL season? No one with half a brain would think the Packers lost 20 weeks later because they didn’t hold practices. I know you think it’d be a fun thing to throw back in Rodgers’ face, but it actually wouldn’t because it would not make sense.

mvp43 says:Dec 21, 2011 4:29 PM

Some people just hate it when others get attention. By all accounts he’s very worthy of the award.

medtxpack says:Dec 21, 2011 4:30 PM

boisestatewhodat says:Dec 21, 2011 3:41 PM

He’s still no Drew Brees…Brees’ stats this year are better in almost every category. You’ll see soon enough Green Bay…WHO DAT!!
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For all you Brees slobbers out there, let’s not forget you lost to St. Louis. The KC loss for Green Bay was embarassing, but St. Louis? WOW. I seem to remember an absolutely horrible INT that was thrown in the Saints loss to Tampa also. And 49ers fans, you guys beat up on a hobbled Big Ben, good for you. Doesn’t erase the fact that you lost to Arizona a week earlier and have an absolutely horrible redzone offense. So, keep on acting like Green Bay is done for….fact of the matter is that every team in this league has at least one bad loss this year and the Saints couldn’t win at a 7-9 Seattle team last year, I’m not too scared about them coming to Lambeau. Also, it’s a little ironic to hear a SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS fan go the fudgepackers route in an attempt to make fun of Green Bay, just sayin.

rodgers4nflmvp says:Dec 21, 2011 4:43 PM

peoplesrepublic0fdabayarea says:
Dec 21, 2011 1:06 PM
*Yawn*
49ers will still assassinate him in the playoffs and knock him out for 2 years, Leonard Marshall-on-Joe Montana style. Go to hell fudgepackers!
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the 49ers got the tar beat out of them early on too and that flake of a qb you call alex smith is a joke how long till the defense cant bail them out anymore and get exposed, by the way thanks for showing everyone on here how big of a douche you are….people who wish harm or injury to another player are pathetic

All this and he passed under 50% last week? Maybe they should spread it out and let him run a little more. I sure hope he’s the long term guy for the Pack. I like this guy.

nickynick04 says:Dec 21, 2011 5:24 PM

Sorry guys. Aaron is indeed a scrub. Kinda goofy actually. And very ugly. Not as ugly as Big ben but ugly just the same. He has a me me me i’m the man looky what i can do attitude. After they beat the Saints in week one he slammed Drew Brees and the Saints for having lockout practices and laughed it off cuz they won against the Saints without the lockout workouts. Fine and dandy. But if people think Drew Brees and the Saints forgot about that Diss by Aaron the scrub Rogers you’ve made a serious misjudgement! The Saints never said a word about it. But they remember it i gaurantee ya. I’m looking forward to the NFC championship post game comments by Drew Brees which might go as follows: Yea, we had lockout practices and we won the NFC Championship game and the Packers didn’t have lockout prctices and they lost the Championship game! Drew is probably to classy to ever say that but i would. Geaux Saints!

Lets get one thing strait,,,,,I can care less about the Packers BUT A SAINTS FAN RUNNING HIS MOUTH…come on…they were given a Super Bowl because of Katrina and had 30 losing years in a row….NO ROOM TO DIS ANYONE….off season practices…how many games the Aints won….Packers ..? enough said next question…Saints come on man….you are the door mats of the league have 30 winning seasons in a row and you can sit with the NFL best

He’s still no Drew Brees…Brees’ stats this year are better in almost every category. You’ll see soon enough Green Bay…WHO DAT!!
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Another Aints fan with a mouth….ha ha ha ha ha how many years and years and years and years and years and years and years and years and years and years and years….etc etc etc have you guys been the laughing stock of this league….NO ROOM to dis anyone..

I dislike mentioning Tebow, but Hey, they started it. Rodgers’ favorite book is the bible. When he won this award, he thanked his teammates, coaches, the organization for believing in him in 2005 and picking him.

Rodgers >>> Tebow

salmen76 says:Dec 22, 2011 12:46 PM

Na. Rogers is still a scrub. Montana and Bradshaw and Aiekman won mutiple Super Bowls and never lost a one. Trent Dilfer has one ring and Drew Brees has one ring and joe namoth only has one ring and Doug Johnson has one ring and Eli has one ring. I’m sure there are more. But all those one ringers or multiple ringers that lost at least one SB aten’t even a pimple on bradshaws and Aiekmans and Montanas butt! I watched them play, Brady got all his acolades cheating. Since the patriots got caught cheating the haven’t won a single SB. They lost the SB to Eli the first season after they got caught cheating. Rogers may very well win multiple Super Bowls without losing any. And then in my book he will be up there with the 3 greats i mentioned. I really liked Elway too but he lost 3 SBs. I’m not saying Brees is better than Rogers. They’re about equal but Rogers is bigger and a tad younger. But he is ugly. Geaux Saints!